I have so many things to post, and yet I have been scrambling (and failing) to keep my mind in order for the last few days – month-end in the world of Finance obviously leaves no time for blogging. I am off on my little weekend getaway to celebrate le boyfriend’s early birthday at a secret for him location. Hopefully, I’ll be able to share some photos with you upon my return. LG Fashion Week posts are coming very soon (re: Andy The-Anh, Joe Fresh, Pink Tartan, Evan Biddell, Attitude by Sears, and the stylish FW attendees). In the meantime, you may enter the below Skin MD contest, which closes on April 9th. Hope you all have a very happy long Easter weekend!

It was a relatively cold day for Cuba. Maybe under 20 degrees Celsius! Plus cloudy, windy, etc. So I really had to hold on to my hat for most of our day in Havana to prevent it from flying away. But my new H&M Men’s tee was perfect for such a day. Long sleeves that roll up, yet with enough volume not to be too hot when it got sunny. Plus it’s…that’s right…it’s striped! I know, I know…I need help.

And the shoes…I really don’t get it. I’ve worn these sandals in Rome, Paris, Sorrento, Mexico, Toronto…everywhere…and they’ve always been nothing but comfortable! Yet this time around, I had to stop a few times, just to let my blisters feet get some rest. What gives? Is it time to throw these babies out? I don’t think I am ready yet.

So after much deliberation (and tripadvisor scouring), le boyfriend and I have finally settled on our next vacation place. We’re going to…drumroll…CUBA! And we’re leaving next Monday! Ughh…only one week to get everything ready and in order. I am not even going to start on my flab issues…not enough space on this blog! So yeah, a much-needed vacation away from technology, accounting, and Microsoft Excel! And while I have a plentiful supply of bathing suits to last me for at least the next 10 years, I just couldn’t resist posting about my new favorite swimsuits!

We Are Handsome is an Australian brand, which sells handmade, limited edition swimsuits. I’m not usually a fan of one-piece suits, but We Are Handsome designs are just too awesome to pass up! My favorite of the bunch is Africa. It’s definitely reminiscent of Christopher Kane’s Gorilla and Alligator tees, which just goes to show…who wouldn’t love a roaring beast for a stomach? I know I would! The suits sell for around $180 AUD (~$166 USD) and aren’t the cheapest out there, but hey, it’s unlikely that anyone else at your local pool will have one! And they are guaranteed to turn some heads and maybe even scare away a few creepos too!

I’ve only been gone 4 days, but it feels like forever! That’s what being in Texas does to a girl. Some of you might know that I’ve spent a few of my college years in Houston, and out of those 4 or so years came a lot of friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime. Well, last weekend one of my dearest friends, Jen, got married to the love of her life Joe. And to celebrate that wonderful occasion, le boyfriend and I flew to Texas! Unfortunately for us, no carry-ons were allowed on flights from Canada to the US at the time, and perhaps due to my horrendous “luck” with baggage, ours was lost somewhere in Atlanta, which meant almost 3 days (out of 4), including the wedding, without our clothes. Rock and roll, right?

Well, after much stress and frustration, we went shopping and I finally was able to find these hot Aldo cage sandals in my size and on sale! I also bought a tweed Zara blazer, a one-shoulder Zara dress, and a few other items that I’ll be posting about later on. These pics were taken on our last day in Houston, after we’ve received our luggage. So it’s really a mix of what I brought with me with the items I had to buy out of necessity.

Note that the weather is…beautiful! This was taken on January 11th! While it was frigid and snowy in Toronto, le boyfriend and I frolicked in the sunshine, not wearing much clothes at all! And all those Texans still complained about the cold! Had I never moved to Canada, perhaps I wouldn’t appreciate those sunny days either…But I did move, and I did appreciate. Sunny days, delicious food, Southern hospitality, even if you only have one pair of underwear…what can be better?

It’s been almost 2 months since my trip, and I still haven’t posted the pics…Who’s bad? All I have to say in my defense is that pictures take forever to format and upload and I had so many other things to catch up on! Well, I finally got around to it, and the first batch is here.

When I went to Paris last year, the trend that a lot of Parisian women were rocking were the MC Hammer pants…this year it was the Boyfriend Blazer. I am always amazed at the ease with which European girls (and guys) pull off their outfits. Very nonchalant, yet you know that effort was put forth. Love! So here’s a little glimpse into the style on the streets of Paris from my (stalker-like) perspective. Krakow post is coming soon (fingers crossed).

Update: I just realized that I didn’t take any photos of women wearing boyfriend blazers! I think I was too busy pointing them out to my boyfriend as a growing trend, instead of pulling out my camera and shooting away. Oh well…I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it. They were everywhere!

I have to admit that despite my looove for clothes, I am not a big shopper during my travels. The last 3 summers in Paris I bought…a silk handmade scarf for my mom, Louis Vuitton coin purse and a speedy strap, an Eiffel Tower keychain, and a bunch of vintage poster reproductions…all mementos of my stay in my favorite city in the whole entire world (well…almost). So these pics are from this summer…practically the only stores I visited on my trip. Sad, I know.

Chanel…no explanation necessary, right? It’s a Parisian must-see. Enough said. LV…we were in it mainly for the free champagne…and The Kooples? If you’re in Paris, absolutely check it out! Loved everything in the store! Wish we had it here in Toronto. Clothes that look like you could share them with your boyfriend, in soft and touchable fabrics. Amazingness!

Ahh, summer! I really wish we had a better one, but you gotta take what you’re given and squeeze every last drop out of it.

I love water! I love swimming and chillaxing on the beach, so living in Ontario is quite cool, since we’re surrounded by so many lakes! The only glitch is, if like me, you don’t have a cottage, it gets quite tough to find nice accommodations in Muskoka. Last time we were planning a trip North, I’ve spent hours (literally) searching for a nice place to stay. There are tons of cottages for rent, but not all of them look nice, and most of them will cost you an arm and a leg. B&Bs could work too, but are hit and miss, unless you stay at highly recommended ones, which usually book up way ahead of time. So what to do?

Stay at the Marriott! Seriously, it was cheaper than a B&B and you get your own bathroom, kitchen, King bed, balcony, complimentary breakfast and parking, and other amenities, like a hot tub and a swimming pool! Residence Inn Gravenhurst Muskoka Wharf opened in 2009, and is brand spanking new! The rooms are impeccable, and you can cook inside if you choose to (they even have pots and pans!). Most rooms also come with a pullout couch, which is super convenient if you’re staying with kids or friends. The hotel is well-situated, right at the Muskoka Wharf, literally a 5-minute walk to the marina. The room only cost us $149 per night (including breakfast!). I really loved everything about this hotel, and would definitely go back!

And if you’re wondering if this is a paid plug, it is not! Just a friendly, and hopefully helpful tip for those that are planning a Muskoka trip soon.

Nowadays, it’s never surprising to see a celebrity fronting a beauty campaign for a big brand, so obviously I wasn’t shocked to see so many hot celeb guys’ pics at the duty free shop in London. What surprised me, however, is that most of those guys are on my Freebie 5 (or very close runner ups)! Coincidence? I think not! Definitely made my layover much more enjoyable! Have a look at these awesome ads and the gorgeous gentlemen in them. Beautiful, aren’t they?

WHAT I WORE

WHO IS NELIA?

Nelia Belkova is a Toronto-based fashion and lifestyle blogger by night and a financial analyst by day. She loves to travel, read gossip sites, eat sweets, and cuddle up to her husband and her cat on the couch. Read More…